Car Strikes and Kills John Doe Bicyclist

October 07, 2009
By
Caputo & Van Der Walde LLP

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The Mercury News recently ran an article discussing the search for the
family of a 67-year-old bicyclist that was struck and killed in Watsonville.
Police believe the male victim to be a transient, and are still attempting
to identify him so that next-of-kin can be notified of his accident. The
bicyclist reportedly veered in front of the white Mercedes automobile
that struck him, was airlifted to Regional Medical Center in San Jose,
and later succumbed to head trauma and other injuries the night of the accident.

In this particular case, although the driver of the vehicle did flee the
scene of the crash, it does appear as though the driver was responsible
for causing the accident. According to the report, police suspect that
the bicyclist may have lost control as he veered into the car’s
path. Police have tested the motorist’s blood alcohol concentration,
and are awaiting the results before pursuing any sort of charges against
the motorist.

When automobiles collide with bicyclists, the result is almost always
dismal for the bicyclist. In cases where driver negligence is to blame,
victims of bicycle accidents have the right to seek compensatory damages
from negligent motorists. This monetary compensation is often awarded
to an accident victim to help cover the costs associated with the accident,
such as medical bills, physical therapy fees, and even property damage.
In the event that an accident victim perishes during the accident, then
the family of an accident victim may seek damages on the victim’s
behalf, holding reckless drivers accountable for their actions in a court of law.

In you have recently been injured in a bicycle accident in the Santa Cruz
area, don’t hesitate to contact an experienced Santa Cruz bicycle
accident attorney to ensure that your rights are protected in a court
of law. At Caputo & Van Der Walde LLP, our skilled personal injury
lawyers will examine the details of your bicycle or auto accident to determine
if negligence played any sort of factor, and will hold all negligent parties
accountable for their actions. Please call us today at (800) 900-0863
for a free case evaluation.

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